Often larger than standard apartments and distinguished by private street-level entrances, maisonettes—French for “little house”—occupy a category all their own. Frequently spread across two levels, they blend the privacy and independence of a townhouse with the conveniences of a full-service building. In New York City, where space comes at a premium, their house-like feel offers a compelling alternative to traditional apartment living.
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At the corner of Fifth Avenue and East 70th Street, one such residence occupies a stately 1920s apartment house designed by renowned architect Rosario Candela. Overlooking both Central Park and the Frick Collection gardens, the maisonette features north- and west-facing exposures, two private entrances—including one directly on Fifth Avenue—and a polished two-level layout. White-glove services complete the offering within one of Manhattan’s most coveted co-ops.
Peter Pennoyer Architects oversaw a comprehensive renovation of the roughly 5,000-square-foot residence, reworking the layout to improve flow and draw more natural light into the interiors. Throughout, the firm layered in a refined palette of materials, including a sweeping staircase with a bronze balustrade, ebony quarter-sawn oak floors, French silk wall coverings, Venetian plaster, leather, and suede….